Flying-machine.



O. A. PENN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 16, 1910.

Patented July 4, 1911.

3 SHEETSSHBET 1.

R 0 M H N I WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEYS 0. A. PENN.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1910. Patented July 4, 1911' O. A. PENN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 16, 1910.

u 1 mm m/ 4 .W m M E 0 JE am m Qu WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS OTTO'A. FENN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1911.

Application filed May 16, .1910. Serial No. 561,521.

To all whom it 'mdy concern:

Be it known that I, O'r'ro A. FENN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New'York, borough of the Bronx, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Flying-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear,-

- and exact description.

This invention relates to a new and improved flying machine of the heavier-thanair, or aeroplane, ty e. v

An object of this invention is to provide a device which will be simple in construction, light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, strong, durable, and reliable and positive in its operation.

Another object of this invention is to' provide a flying machine with a plurality of supporting planes, offset from each other out of vertical alinement.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flying machine with means for di recting the vertical travel of the machine, and with a universal rudder for further controlling the direction of travel of the machine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a flying machinewith supporting planes capable of being distorted into parachute form, so as to effect a safe landing in case of accident to the motor or other parts of the machine.

These and further objects, together with the construction and combination of parts, will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is; to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of refer ence indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view; Flg. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away to show the underlying structure; Flg. 3 1s a side view in elevation, showing the various positions of the members in full and dotted lines; Fig. 4 is an enlarged'detached side view in elevation, showing the connection of the mechanism for distorting the supporting planes; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rudder; Fig. 6 isan enlarged fragmentary view showing a distorted snpportmgplane, and also showing one of the side equlllbrlum planes; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspectlve View illustrating the controlllng mechanlsm.

Referring more particularly to the separate parts of the device, 1. indicates a frame, which may be of any suitable light material, and preferably consists of a longitudinal portion 2.extending from front to rear of the machine, and a transverse portion 3 extending sidewise of the machine and formed diagonally so as to provide convenient supports for a plurality of supporting planes 4 and 5. It is to be noted that these planes are offset or staggered one from the other, so that, instead of the plane L being superposed above the plane 5, it extends forwardly of the plane 5, and does not project over the surface of the plane 5.

, This gives increased stability to the machine,

and adds to the active supporting surface.

For the purpose of maintaining the transverse equilibrium of the machine, each of the planes 4 and 5 are provided on each side with equilibrium planes 6, which are pivotally connected to the frame in any well known manner, and are limited in their downward movement by means of brackets 8. These planes are also limited in their upward movement, as will be seen more particularly by reference to Fig. 6, by flexible connections 9, which are secured at one end to the planet and at their opposite ends to the brackets 8.

' For the purpose of guiding the machine in a vertical direction, there is provided on the front end of the auxiliary frame 2, a

rudder or directing member 11, which is pivoted to the frame so as to rotate about a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the transverse direction of the planes 4 and 5. This directing member preferably consists of a diamond frame 12, and planes l3 and 14 arranged at different levels but offset from each other so as not to be in superposed relation; that is to say, the plane 13 is disposed forwardly of the plane 14, so as not to project over the latter. The urpose of this is to increase the active sur ace of the directing member and render its action more positive and yet steady.

In order to aid in the directing of the machine, there is provided at the rear end of the frame 2 a rudder 15, which consists of a horizont-al'plane 16 and a vertical plane 17, secured together in any well known man ner. This rudder 15 is connected to the frame 2 by means of a universal joint '18, so that the rudder can move in any direction.

For the purpose of manipulating the rudder so as to swing it vertically and bring the plane 16 into action, there are provided flexible connections 19 and 20, which extend over suitable guide pulleys 21 to opposite sides of the pivot point of a pivoted lever 22, as will be-seen more clearly by reference to Fig. 7. It will be seen that by'moving this lever back and forth, the rudder can be,

swung in a vertical direction to aid in the up-and-down movement of the flying machine.

For the purpose of manipulating the rudder in a transverse manner so as to bring the plane 17 into action, in order to steer the machine to the right or to the left, there are secured to the rudder, on opposite sides thereof, flexible connections 23 and 24, which extend over suitable guide pulleys .25, supported in any well known manner on the frame, to opposite sides of a drum 26 secured to a shaft 27 which is rotatably sup ported in the frame in any well known manner, and is provided with suitable operating means, shown in the form. of a hand wheel 5 On the shaft 27, there is provided a sleeve 29, which is adapted to be operated by a hand wheel 30, and is provided with a drum .31, over which is wound a flexible connection 32, the opposite ends of which extend,

' '39 over suitable guide pulleys 33, to the oppo- In case of an accident to the motive or 40 steering mechanism, it is highly desirable that the aeroplane should come slowly and,

'steadily to an easy landing. For this 'pur pose, the planes 4 and 5 are pivotally connected to the frame at one end, preferably at their rear end, and are slidingly connected to the frame at the other end, so as to permit them to be distorted from a substantially horizontal position to the parachute form illustrated in the dotted lines in Fig. 6.

For the purpose of normally maintaining the planes in their normal position, these planes are provided with s ring ribs 36. For the purpose of transferring the planes from their normal to their abnormal, distorted, parachuteposition, there are provided flexible connections 37 and 38, which are continuous and extend over 'suitable guide pulleys 39 and40, and are connected to the forward ends of'th'e planes 4 and 5, respectively, in any well known manner.

These flexible connections also extend over a drum 41 in such a manner that when the drum-is rotated in one direction, the planes 4 and 5 will be warped to the position illustrated in'the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and when the drum is rotated in the opposite direction, the planes will be returned to their normal position.

For the purpose of manipulating the drum 41, it is provided with a shaft 42, which is rotatably supported in the frame in any well known manner, and is provided with cranks 43, arranged in staggered relation and adapted to be operated by the feet in the manner of pedals.

The operation of the device will be readily understood when taken in connection with the above description. The flying machine is driven by any suitable motive force, and by any suitable type of propeller mechanisms. While in the air, it is guided in a vertical direction with the aid of the forward directing member 11 and the rear rudder 15. Travel in a horizontal direction is accomplished by swinging the rudder 15 to the right or left according to the direction inwhich it is desired'to fly. If a side current or any other cause should swing the plane transversely, the equilibrium lanes 6 will come in play, limiting the swing and bringing the flying machine back to a normal horizontal posltion. In case of accident to the propelling mechanism or to the steering mechanism, the operatorcan transform his flying machine into. a parachute, by working the pedals 43, so as to distort the planes 4 and 5 into the curved form indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 and the full lines in Fig. 6, in which case, the flying machine will catch considerable air as it descends, lessening the shock of alighting.

While I have shown one embodiment of my invention, Ido not wish to be limited to the specific details thereof, but desire to be protected in various changes, modifications and alterations which I may make within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a frame, of one or more planes connected to said frame normally assuming a comparatively fiat form, and mechanism for distorting said planes into a parachute form.

2. The combination with a frame, of one or more planes connected to said frame normally assumin a comparatively flat form, mechanism for distorting said planes into a parachute form, and means for maintaining said planes in their normal position. i

'3. The combination with a frame, of one or more planes connected to said frame, mechanism for distorting said planes into a parachute form, I and springs for maintaining said planes in their normal position.

4. The combination with a frame, of one or more supporting'planes on said frame, said planes being pivotally connected to operating said drum, and flexible connections for transmitting the motion of said drum to said planes.

6. The combination with a frame, of one or more supporting planes on said frame, said planes extending normally substantially horizontal and adapted to assume a concave form by bulging a portion intermediate the edges above-the plane of the edges. I

7. The combination with a frame, of one or more supporting planes on said frame, said planes extending normally substantially horizontal and adapted to assume a concave form by bulging a portion intermediate the edges above the plane of the edges, and means for manipulating said planes from a horizontal position to a concave posit-ion.

8. The combination with a frame, of one or more supporting planes on said frame,

said planes extending normally substantially horizontal nd adapted to assume a concave form by bli lging a portion intermediate the edges above the plane of the edges, means for manipulating said planes from a hori zontal position to a concave position, and means for returning said planes to their normal position.

9. The combination with a frame, of a plurality of supporting planes on said frame, arranged at difierent levels, the frontedge of a lower plane being in vertical aline, ment with the rear edge of the next higher plane, and a rudder pivotally mounted on said frame, said rudder comprising a plurality of planes disposed at difl'erent levels, the front end of the lower of which being in vertical alinement with the rear end of the next higher plane.

10. The combination with a diamondshaped frame havingthe rear end of the upper portion thereof in vertical almement with the front end of the lower portion thereof, and having said ends interconnected by a vertical brace, and a supporting plane 1 on both the upper and lower portions of said frame, said supporting planes being offset one from the other.

11. The combination with a frame, of one or'more supporting planes on said frame, equilibrium planes pivotally connected to said frame, flexible connections for limiting the movement of said equilibrium planes in one direction, and brackets for limiting the movement of said equilibrium planes in an other direction.

12. The combination with a frame, of a plurality of supporting planes on said frame, said supporting planes being vertically spaced and horizontally spaced relative to each other, a pair of equilibrium planes extending in alinement with each of said supporting planes, means for manipulating said equilibrium planes, a rudder located at the front of said frame and comprising a plurality of vertically-spaced planes horizontally offset relative to each other, means for manipulating said rudder, a. rudder having a universal connection with said frame, at

the rear thereof, said last-mentioned rudder having a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, and means for manipulating said lastmentioned rudder in any direction.

13. The combination with aframe, of a plurality of supporting planes on said frame, said supporting planes being vertically spaced and horizontally spaced relative to each other, a pair-ofequilrbrium planes extending in alineme'nt with each of said supporting planes, means for manipulating said equilibrium planes, a rudder located at the front of said frame and comprising a'plurality of vertically-spaced planes horizon- I tally offset relative to each other, means for manipulating said rudder, a rudder having a universal connection With said frame, at

the rear thereof, said last-mentioned rudder having a-vertica'l plane and a horizontal plane, means for manipulating said lastmentioned rudder in any direction, said supporting planes normally occupying a comparatively fiat form and being capable of being distorted into an inverted U-shaped form, so as to form a parachute, and means for manipulatingsaid supporting planes from one form into the other form.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HoRA'rIo WHrrINe, PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS. 

